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Based on large-scale shaking table model tests and the particle flow code PFC2D, this study investigates the failure characteristics of steeply dipping bedding rock slopes and the failure modes of the slope’s locking sections under seismic dynamic actions. The results show that the deformation and failure evolution process of the slope under seismic wave loading can be divided into four stages: the generation of tensile cracks in the rock strata at the slope top, the downward propagation of tensile cracks along the bedding planes until the formation of locking sections at the slope toe, the shear fracture of locking sections and the penetration of sliding surfaces, and the sudden instability and sliding of the slope, with the failure mode being tensile-shear pushing sliding failure. Combined with the results of shaking table model tests and numerical simulations, it is concluded that the sliding failure surface of steeply dipping bedding rock slopes under seismic action is composed of the bedding planes of rock strata and the shear fracture surfaces of locking sections, and the fracture mode of the slope’s locking sections is shear failure caused by the combined action of seismic inertial force and overlying load. With the gradual increase in the dip angle of rock strata, the failure mode of steeply dipping bedding rock slopes gradually transforms from shear-slip failure to inward progressive tensile fracture failure. The thickness of rock strata has little influence on the failure mode of steeply dipping bedding rock slopes and the fracture mode of locking sections, while the model slopes with thinner rock strata exhibit more severe sliding failure compared with those with thicker rock strata.

In this study, an efficient porous g-C 3 N 4 nanosheet with N defect was successfully fabricated via a facile co-thermolysis method. The porous g-C 3 N 4 nanosheet showed 96% degradation efficiency towards Eosin-Y within 100 min, which was about 1.48-fold higher than that of pure bulk g-C 3 N 4 . In addition, the modified porous g-C 3 N 4 nanosheet exhibited the hydrogen evolution performance with the activity of 450 μmol with 3 h, which was 5.29-fold higher than that of pure bulk g-C 3 N 4 . The elevated photocatalytic activity was attributed to the synergism of porous nanosheet and N defect, which improved light harvesting and accelerated separation of photo-induced e – and h + , greatly assisting in organic pollutants removal and hydrogen evolution. Furthermore, trapping experiments demonstrated that the holes and superoxide radicals were the main active species in the photocatalytic degradation of Eosin-Y solution.

The presence of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in natural habitats has recently sparked increased concern. Vertical-flow constructed wetlands (VFCWs) represent a novel approach to reducing these new contaminants. In the current work, four laboratory-scale VFCW models with various substrates were built to decrease oxytetracycline (OTC) and ARGs. The findings showed that the combination of zeolite and activated carbon exhibited high OTC removal efficiency (up to 97%), with lesser accumulation than in other experimental groups. Furthermore, the combination of zeolite and activated carbon had the lowest absolute and relative abundance of ARGs. This was ascribed to the synergistic benefits of zeolite and activated carbon in CW-D, which exceeded other VFCWs in terms of ARGs removal efficiency. The treatment groups had a considerable but not absolute inhibitory impact on ARGs proliferation; this was attributable to the fact that many dominant bacteria in the community under antibiotic stress were antibiotic-resistant, allowing ARGs to propagate more easily. Network analysis and correlation analysis emphasized the importance of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in ARGs dissemination, and antibiotic pressure is unlikely to have a substantial influence on ARGs propagation in the medium-term future. Furthermore, it was found that hydrophilic phages and Legionella species might serve as possible hosts for ARGs.

Contamination from light nonaqueous phase fluids (LNAPLs) and their derivatives during mining, production, and transportation has become a concern. Scholars have extensively studied LNAPL contamination, but the role of water content variation on its migration process in the unsaturated zone has not been sufficiently researched. The specific issue addressed in this study is the impact of water content on the migration of light nonaqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs) in sandy soils, a critical yet under-researched aspect of subsurface contamination. To tackle this, we employed indoor simulated vertical, one-dimensional, multiphase flow soil column experiments, utilizing the orthogonal experimental method to systematically evaluate the effects of varying water contents on the occurrence state and migration rate of LNAPLs. The experimental results indicate the following: (1) The migration rate of LNAPL exhibits an L-shaped trend during subsurface imbibition and a nonlinear relationship with migration time. The migration rate and migration time of surface infiltration have a linear growth relationship. (2) The residual rate of LNAPL is negatively correlated with water content and positively correlated with oil content in the homogeneous non-saturated state. With the increase in the amount of leaked oil, 40% of the leaked LNAPL is sorbed within the soil. (3) When the water content of the test medium is below 14%, and the oil content is below 11%, LNAPL appears in the unsaturated zone in a solid phase. As the water content increases, the adsorption rate of the oil phase gradually decreases and eventually reaches the oil saturation point. (4) When the water content of the medium exceeds 8%, over time, LNAPL will be subject to oil–water interfacial tension, and the rate of LNAPL movement first decreases and then increases, displaying nonlinear growth. The innovation of this work lies in the comprehensive analysis of LNAPL migration under controlled laboratory conditions, providing results that enhance the understanding of LNAPL behavior in sandy soils. These quantitative insights are crucial for developing targeted remediation strategies for LNAPL-induced pollution in the unsaturated zone.

Herein, novel ternary kaolin/CeO2/g-C3N4 composite was prepared by sol-gel method followed by hydrothermal treatment. The self-assembled 3D “sandwich” structure consisting of kaolin, CeO2 and g-C3N4 nanosheets, was systematically characterized by appropriate techniques to assess its physicochemical properties. In the prerequisite of visible-light irradiation, the removal efficiency of ciprofloxacin (CIP) over the kaolin/CeO2/g-C3N4 composite was about 90% within 150 min, 2-folds higher than those of pristine CeO2 and g-C3N4. The enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to the improved photo-induced charge separation efficiency and the large specific surface area, which was determined by electrochemical measurements and N2 physisorption methods, respectively. The synergistic effect between the kaolin and CeO2/g-C3N4 heterostructure improved the photocatalytic performance of the final solid. The trapping and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments demonstrated that the hole (h+) and superoxide radicals (•O2−) played an important role in the photocatalytic process. The photocatalytic mechanism for CIP degradation was also proposed based on experimental results. The obtained results revealed that the kaolin/CeO2/g-C3N4 composite is a promising solid catalyst for environmental remediation.

Groundwater near a sulfuric acid plant in Xingyang, Henan, China was sampled from seven distinct sites to explore the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Results showed that genes aadA , bla CTX-M , tetA , qnrA , and sul1 were detected with 100% frequency followed by aac (6')-Ib (85.71%), ermB (85.71%), and tetX (71.42%). Most abundant ARGs were sul1 in LSA2 (1.15 × 10 11 copies/mL), tetA in LSA6 (4.95 × 10 10 copies/mL), aadA in LSA2 (4.56 × 10 9 copies/mL), bla CTX-M in LSA4 (1.19 × 10 9 copies/mL), and ermB in LSA5 (1.07 × 10 9 copies/mL). Moreover, in LSA2, intl1 as a marker of class 1 integron emerged as the most abundant gene as part of MGE (2.25 × 10 11 copies/mL), trailed by IS CR 1 (1.57 × 10 9 copies/mL). Environmental factors explained 81.34% of ARG variations, with a strong positive correlation between the intl2 and bla CTX-M genes, as well as the IS CR1 gene and qnrA, tetA, intl2 , and bla CTX-M . Furthermore, the intI1 gene had a strong positive connection with the aadA, tetA, and sul1 genes. Moreover, the aac (6')-Ib gene was associated with As, Pb, Mg, Ca, and HCO3-. The intl2 gene was also shown to be strongly associated with Cd. Notably, network analysis highlighted bla CTX-M as the most frequently appearing gene across networks of at least five genera. Particularly, Lactobacillus , Plesiomonas , and Ligilactobacillus demonstrated correlations with aadA , qnrA , bla CTX-M , intI2 , and IS CR 1. Based on 16S rRNA sequencing, the dominant phyla were Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, Acidobacteriota, and Actinobacteriota, with dominant genera including Pseudomonas , Ligilactobacillus , Azoarcus , Vogesella , Streptococcus , Plesiomonas , and Ferritrophicum . These findings enhance our understanding of ARG distribution in groundwater, signaling substantial contamination by ARGs and potential risks to public health.

A novel and highly efficient photocatalyst of a AgBiO3/BiOCl heterojunction has been developed via a facile water bath and in situ precipitation method. The photocatalytic activities of the catalysts were investigated by the degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) under visible-light irradiation (>420 nm). The experiment results revealed that the photocatalytic performance of the optimized AgBiO3/BiOCl heterojunction was much higher than pure AgBiO3 and BiOCl. The degradation efficiency of the as-prepared AgBiO3/BiOCl heterojunction (ABC-30) for CIP could reach 88% within 160 min, with 2.89 and 3.76 times higher activity than pure AgBiO3 and BiOCl, respectively. The improved photocatalytic performance of AgBiO3/BiOCl was attributed to the synergistic effect of the enhanced light absorption range and effective separation and transfer of the photo-induced charge carrier. The optimized heterojunction showed broad-spectrum catalytic activities towards various organic contaminants. The degradation efficiencies varied with the nature of the pollutant and decreased in the following order: Lanasol Red 5B (100%) > methyl orange (99%) > methylene blue (98%) > tetracycline (92%) > ciprofloxacin (88%) > ofloxacin (85%) > norfloxacin (78%) > rhodamine B (59%) > metronidazole (43%) > phenol (40%) > carbamazepine (20%). Furthermore, the trapping experiments and ESR indicated that superoxide radicals and holes were the main reactive species.

A novel and highly efficient photocatalyst of a AgBiO /BiOCl heterojunction has been developed via a facile water bath and in situ precipitation method. The photocatalytic activities of the catalysts were investigated by the degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) under visible-light irradiation (>420 nm). The experiment results revealed that the photocatalytic performance of the optimized AgBiO /BiOCl heterojunction was much higher than pure AgBiO and BiOCl. The degradation efficiency of the as-prepared AgBiO /BiOCl heterojunction (ABC-30) for CIP could reach 88% within 160 min, with 2.89 and 3.76 times higher activity than pure AgBiO and BiOCl, respectively. The improved photocatalytic performance of AgBiO /BiOCl was attributed to the synergistic effect of the enhanced light absorption range and effective separation and transfer of the photo-induced charge carrier. The optimized heterojunction showed broad-spectrum catalytic activities towards various organic contaminants. The degradation efficiencies varied with the nature of the pollutant and decreased in the following order: Lanasol Red 5B (100%) > methyl orange (99%) > methylene blue (98%) > tetracycline (92%) > ciprofloxacin (88%) > ofloxacin (85%) > norfloxacin (78%) > rhodamine B (59%) > metronidazole (43%) > phenol (40%) > carbamazepine (20%). Furthermore, the trapping experiments and ESR indicated that superoxide radicals and holes were the main reactive species.

A novel and highly efficient photocatalyst of a AgBiO[sub.3]/BiOCl heterojunction has been developed via a facile water bath and in situ precipitation method. The photocatalytic activities of the catalysts were investigated by the degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) under visible-light irradiation (>420 nm). The experiment results revealed that the photocatalytic performance of the optimized AgBiO[sub.3]/BiOCl heterojunction was much higher than pure AgBiO[sub.3] and BiOCl. The degradation efficiency of the as-prepared AgBiO[sub.3]/BiOCl heterojunction (ABC-30) for CIP could reach 88% within 160 min, with 2.89 and 3.76 times higher activity than pure AgBiO[sub.3] and BiOCl, respectively. The improved photocatalytic performance of AgBiO[sub.3]/BiOCl was attributed to the synergistic effect of the enhanced light absorption range and effective separation and transfer of the photo-induced charge carrier. The optimized heterojunction showed broad-spectrum catalytic activities towards various organic contaminants. The degradation efficiencies varied with the nature of the pollutant and decreased in the following order: Lanasol Red 5B (100%) > methyl orange (99%) > methylene blue (98%) > tetracycline (92%) > ciprofloxacin (88%) > ofloxacin (85%) > norfloxacin (78%) > rhodamine B (59%) > metronidazole (43%) > phenol (40%) > carbamazepine (20%). Furthermore, the trapping experiments and ESR indicated that superoxide radicals and holes were the main reactive species.

Lithium–sulfur batteries are attractive alternatives to lithium-ion batteries because of their high theoretical specific energy and natural abundance of sulfur. However, the practical specific energy and cycle life of Li–S pouch cells are significantly limited by the use of thin sulfur electrodes, flooded electrolytes and Li metal degradation. Here we propose a cathode design concept to achieve good Li–S pouch cell performances. The cathode is composed of uniformly embedded ZnS nanoparticles and Co–N–C single-atom catalyst to form double-end binding sites inside a highly oriented macroporous host, which can effectively immobilize and catalytically convert polysulfide intermediates during cycling, thus eliminating the shuttle effect and lithium metal corrosion. The ordered macropores enhance ionic transport under high sulfur loading by forming sufficient triple-phase boundaries between catalyst, conductive support and electrolyte. This design prevents the formation of inactive sulfur (dead sulfur). Our cathode structure shows improved performances in a pouch cell configuration under high sulfur loading and lean electrolyte operation. A 1-A-h-level pouch cell with only 100% lithium excess can deliver a cell specific energy of >300 W h kg −1 with a Coulombic efficiency >95% for 80 cycles. The shuttling effect in Li–S batteries can be drastically suppressed by using a single-atom Co catalyst and polar ZnS nanoparticles embedded in a macroporous conductive matrix as a cathode. Using this strategy, Li–S pouch cells show stable cycling and high energy performances.